Coin freed ball storage system for pool and snooker tables



R. F. GREEN May 20, 1969 COIN FREED BALL STORAGE SYSTEM FOR POOL ANDSNOOKER TABLES Filed Nov. 24, 1967 -FIG.

FIG-3 RONALD FRQNK GREEN. mural QJ QWMALML'JMJ. my.

United States Patent 3,444,974 COIN FREED BALL STORAGE SYSTEM FOR POOLAND SNOOKER TABLES Ronald Frank Green, Avalon, New South Wales,Australia, assignor to Davidson Holdings Pty. Limited, Mosman, New SouthWales, Australia, a corporation of Australia Filed Nov. 24, 1967, Ser.No. 685,515 Int. Cl. G07f /10 U.S. Cl. 194-9 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A coin freed ball storage system for a table for playinggames such as pool and snooker for which there is used one or more cueballs and a set of object balls, the system comprising a path for objectballs from the pockets of the table to a return receptacle, adisplaceable barrier in the path normally closed to obstruct the passageof balls to store object balls as they are pocketed in an inaccessibleposition within the table, means freed by coin insertion for opening thebarrier, and means which responds to the passage of the object ballfirst pocketed to restore the barrier to closed conditon.

This invention relates to automatic coin controlled pool tables and moreparticularly to control systems therefor for releasing from storage theobject balls in response to coin insertion.

The expression pool table wherever used herein is intended to refer tothe form of table commonly used with a set of balls composed of one ormore cue balls and a number of object balls of one or more groups, suchas in the games of snooker and pool.

A requirement for the game of pool which the table of the invention isdesigned to provide is the return of the cue ball after pocketing at alltimes during a game while the object balls, usually numbered from 1 toare no longer required during the game after they have been pocketed. Asimilar requirement exists in the game of snooker in so far as the cueball and red object balls are concerned. Disregarding the so-calledcoloured balls of this latter game, therefore, a similar provision inthe table will suffice for both games.

It is the object of this invention to provide means in a pool table forautomatically controlling firstly the release of all object balls inresponse to coin insertion and storage of all object balls afterpocketing.

It is also an object of the invention to provide means for achievingthis result which is eflicient, of simple construction and capable ofoperating on low power consumption from a battery source.

In a general form the invention provides a coin freed ball storagesystem for releasably storing in an inaccessible position within a pooltable object balls as they are pocketed during a game, said systemcomprising a path for passage of object balls from pockets to a returnreceptacle on the table, a displaceable barrier in the said pathnormally obstructing the passage of balls, means freed by coin insertionfor removing the barrier, and means responsive to passage of the firstobject ball pocketed in the game to restore the barrier.

The features of the invention will become clearer from an understandingof the following description with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates by schematic diagram the necessary components for oneembodiment of a control system of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows one form of releasable ball barrier which may be used withthe circuitry of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 shows schematically another embodiment capable of substitutionfor the control system of FIGS. 1 and 2.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a motorM which will be energized from the battery source upon closure of eithercontact r1 or m2. FIG. 2 shows a ball passage tube 4 which will belocated in the path of object balls passing from the pockets of a pooltable to a return tray or other receptacle on the pool table which isaccessible to the players. The ball passage tube 4 is itself positionedwithin the table in a location inaccessible to the players. A shaft 5 ofthe motor M carries at its outer end a pair of juxtaposed cylindricalcams M1 and M2 provided with registering notches 6 and 7 at one portionof their peripheries. The cam M2 is provided with a second peripheralnotch 8 approximately diametrally opposite its notch 7. The end of theshaft 5 carries an eccentric Vane 9 having its extending portion 10protruding transversely through a circumferential slot 11 in the wall ofthe ball passage tube 4. Respective actuators 12 and 13 formicroswitches (not shown) are mounted with respect to the cams M1 and M2so that with rotation of the shaft 5 they ride over the periphery of thetwo cams M1 and M2 in which condition contacts m1 and m2 are moved totheir off-normal conditions. These contacts restore whenever theactuators 12 and 13 engage in their respective notches 6, 7 and 8.

Any suitable means may be included in the table to ensure that theobject balls in their passage from the pockets of the table to thereturn tray pass via the ball passage tube 4. For example, themechanical construction of the table may comprise the provision ofinwardly sloping platforms to receive all balls entering the pockets ofthe table to direct them inwardly to a central location. Beneath thecentral location may be provided discriminating inclined rails spaced soas to retain the object balls thereon while permitting the fall of thecue ball of smaller diameter than the object balls, through the railsinto a passageway leading directly to the return tray. The ball passagetube 4, which is also inclined downwardly communicates with the lowerend of the discriminating rails to receive the object balls therefromand at its lower end communicates with the receiving tray.

It will be seen, therefore, that the portion 10 of the vane 9 protrudinginto the ball passage tube 4 will serve as a barrier to balls rollingdown the tube 4. When the shaft 5 is rotated, however, the protrudingportion 10 of the vane 9 is moved out of the tube 4 to permit freepassage of the object balls to the return tray.

For the game of snooker the coloured object balls, i.e., thoseadditional to the red balls and one ball, will be of a differentdiameter to the red object balls to ensure their return. Such aprovision is necessary to ensure their availability for r-espotting"while red balls remain on the table, or, when a foul stroke has beenplayed. By providing the coloured object balls with a diameter diiferentfrom all other balls they may be segregated within the table for specialhandling such as for non-return after a stage of the game has beencompleted.

A control system for the releasable storage of object balls, such as thenumbered balls in pool or the red balls in snooker, is shown in FIG. 1where it will be seen that operation of contacts cs closes the circuitfrom the battery to the relay R. The contacts cs are associated with amicroswitch (not shown) which is operated momentarily upon the insertionof an appropriate coin by a prospective player. As soon as relay Roperates, a holding circuit is provided through its contacts r2 and thenormally closed contacts m2. Contacts 11 also close and the motor Mcommences to rotate. As explained above, contracts m1 and 1112change-over to an off-normal conditon so that the former closes andprepares an additional energizing circuit for the relay R, and thelatter contacts hold the motor M energized so that it continues torotate. In this position of contacts m2 the energizing circuit for relayR is broken. When the motor has completed approximately half arevolution contacts m2 restore to normal when the notch 8 in the cam M2is engaged by the actuator 13 of the respective microswitch. The motor Mthen ceases to operate and the circuit remains at its off-normal restposition with the protruding portion 10 of the vane 9 out of registerwith the slot 11 of the tube 4. The object balls stored in the tube arethen free to pass to the return tray for use by the players.

As the game progresses one of the object balls will ultimately bepocketed and pass to the discriminating rails and thence to the ballpassage tube 4. An actuating lever for a microswitch (not shown) iscontacted by each object ball passing to the tube 4 to cause momentaryclosure of contacts rs. Upon the first operation of contacts rs therelay R is again energized from the battery over contacts rs and m1, nowclosed, and contacts m2, now restored to normal. Again the hold circuitfor the relay R is provided by contacts 22 while the motor M isenergized by closing of contacts r1. The motor will continue to rotatefor the remainder of a single revolution with contacts m2 now in anoff-normal condition, until the actuators 12 and 13 again engage in thenotches 6 and 7 of the cams m1 and ml. The motor then will cease tooperate through restoration of contacts m2 and the protruding portion 10of the vane 9 will again form a barrier to the passage of balls alongthe tube 4. Therefore, although the cue ball is continually returned ifpocketed, the object balls which are pocketed are stored in the ballpassage tube 4 until a further coin is inserted into the tablemechanism.

By the use of the above described circuit a very low drain and lowvoltage potential is required from the battery source. By appropriatechoice of relay and motor a conveniently sized battery of 3.6 v. wouldsupply the power needs for the table for a long period of time.

An alternative form of control system is shown in FIG. 3 which in placeof the motor M employs a pair of solenoids. Solenoid SA is provided withtwo contacts m1 and M2 and its plunger is attached to a spring returnedslide 14 retractable from a transverse slot in the ball passage tube 4.The second solenoid SB is provided with a single contact sbl and itsplunger is engageable with an abutment on the slide 14 when it is in aretracted position to hold the slide in this position until the solenoidSB is energized.

The circuit of FIG. 3 functions as follows.

Closure of the coin switch contacts cs operates the relay R whichlocks-on over its contacts r2. Contacts r1 then energize solenoid SA toretract the slide 14 and allow the stored object balls to pass from thetube 4 into the return tray on the table. Contacts sal changeover andhold solenoid SA energized. When the object 'ball closes contacts rssolenoid SB operates over these contacts and now closed contacts M2 toretract its plunger and release the slide 14. Through its contacts sblwhich now open, solenoid SA releases and the slide 14 returns underspring action to its barrier position to the balls in the tube 4. Thedrain of the battery source with this later form of control system wouldin most cases exceed that of the motor M of the previous embodiment.Nevertheless, the circuit has useful application and the load on thebattery can be maintained reasonably low by appropriate choice ofsolenoids.

Two forms of control systems have been describedin the foregoingpassages but it is to be understood that other forms are also feasiblewithin the scope of this invention.

What I claim is:

1. A coin freed ball storage system for releasably storing in aninaccessible position within a pool table object balls as they arepocketed during a game, said system comprising a path for passage ofobject balls from pockets on the table to a return receptaxble, adisplaceable barrier in the said path normally obstructing the passageof balls, means freed by coin insertion for removing the barrier, andmeans responsive to passage of the first object ball pocketed in thegame to restore the barrier. i

2. A coin freed ball storage system according to claim 1, wherein saidmeans for removing the barrier is energized under the control of a relaywhich is operated upon coin insertion and released when said means forremoving the barrier is energized.

3. A coin freed ball storage system according to claim 2, wherein a pairof contacts are operated upon coin insertion and the relay is seriallyconnected therewith and in parallel with said means for removing thebarrier.

4. A coin freed 'ball storage system according to claim 3, wherein saidmeans for removing the barrier has electrical contacts which disconnectthe relay from power when said means for removing the barrier isenergized.

5. A coin freed ball storage system according to claim 1, wherein thebarrier is a vane carried upon a shaft rotatable by an electric motor,said vane normally protruding into a ball tube forming part of the saidpath for object balls and being withdrawn therefrom upon rotation of theshaft.

6. A coin freed ball storage system according to claim 5, wherein a camis also carried upon the shaft and contacts are provided whose operationis controlled by said cam, said contacts stopping operation of the motorwhen the vane is withdrawn from the tube, and said motor being restartedto return the vane to normal posi+ tion whereby the barrier is restored.

7. A coin freed ball storage system for releasably storing in aninaccessible position within a pool table object balls as they arepocketed during a game, said system comprising a path for passage ofobject balls from pockets on the table to a return receptacle, adisplaceable barrier in the said path normally obstructing the passageof balls, means freed by coin insertion for removing the barrier, andmeans responsive to passage of the first object ball pocketed in thegame to restore the barrier, a solenoid having a plunger and beingenergized by said removing means for the barrier, and a ball tubeforming part of the said path for object balls, said barrier being aslide carried by said plunger and normally protruding into said balltube.

8. A coin freed ball storage system according to claim 7, wherein asecond solenoid is provided having a plunger which in extended positionlocks the slide in an offnormal position, said second solenoid beingoperated by said barrier restoring means to release said slide,

References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, PrimaryExaminer.

